Information display apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information display apparatus includes a fan face that is openly/closably bent like bellows, the fan face comprising a thin film flat display formed on a flexible and bendy thin film, the thin film flat display comprising a full color organic EL display capable of displaying a full color television image, a pair of main ribs joined to respective ends of the fan face, the fan face being disposed between the main ribs, a plurality of intermediate ribs interposed between the main ribs, the fan face being joined to the intermediate ribs, and a pivot for turnably fixing the main ribs and the intermediate ribs in a root portion. A television receiver circuit is disposed in one of the main ribs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application is a Divisional Application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/662,936, filed on May 12, 2010, which was a DivisionalApplication of U.S. Pat. No. 7,746,293 B2 which is based on claimspriority to Japanese patent application No. 2004-066243, filed Mar. 9,2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display apparatus that can be carriedanywhere conveniently. Further, the display apparatus of the presentinvention also includes a display apparatus having functions as acomputer and a TV receiver, a phone function, a mobile communicationfunction such as an automatic ticket gate, ETC, RFID, DSRC, and the likeas a target and also means an ordinary mobile information processingapparatus.

2. Background Art

Recently, functions of mobile information processing apparatuses such asa mobile personal computer, a mobile phone, and the like areincreasingly sophisticated. However, it cannot be said that personalcomputers are excellent in portability with respect to weight and size.Further, a mobile phone is defective in that a screen is small anddifficult to be seen and its operationality is bad.

In contrast, an electronic paper and an organic EL (organic LED) areavailable as a flat display. In the electronic paper, colored particlesdisposed in microcapsules are displayed by being displaced or invertedby an electric field and a displayed state is held when no electricfield is applied. The organic LED emits light by pouring electrons andelectron holes into an organic substance and recoupling them. Thefollowing patent documents 1 to 3 are documents as to the electronpaper, and the following patent documents 4 to 9 are documents as to theorganic EL. Further, the following patent documents 10 to 12 aredocuments as to folding and accommodation of a display.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 11-327470-   Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,103-   Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,854-   Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2002-305077-   Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2002-260855-   Patent document 6: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 10-340781-   Patent document 7: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 10-237439-   Patent document 8: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 10-289785-   Patent Document 9: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2003-147345-   Patent Document 10: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2002-300506-   Patent Document 11: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2004-32196-   Patent Document 12: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 7-230250

Although thin film flat displays have been developed, since they areformed on a glass substrate, flexibility is not taken into considerationat all. Further, in the technology disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 7-230250 of the patent document 12enhances portability of an information processing apparatus by dividinga display and folding or assembling it. However, in a system forgathering divided panels using a liquid crystal and the like, sinceframes in which no pixel exists are inevitably formed around theperipheries of respective panels, even if the divided panels areunfolded to an overall screen, it is difficult to get view of the screendue to frame lines existing in the screen. Further, the technologydisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2004-32196 of the patent document 11 proposes a display in which aliquid crystal sheet is taken up when the it is accommodated. However,this technology is impracticable because the liquid crystal sheet isrequired to have two contradict characteristics, that is, rigidity forkeeping it flat when it is unfolded to a flat sheet and softness fortaking up it to a columnar shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enhanceportability and operationality of an information display apparatus sothat a screen can be accommodated compactly.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide aninformation display apparatus that has a screen capable of beingaccommodated compactly and unfolded widely in use and is excellent inportability.

The present invention has novelty and an inventive step in an innovativeapproach of blending an age-old technology with a latest technology.

It should not be understood that all the inventions have all the objectsof the above invention, and it is sufficient that respective inventionshave respective objects.

A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus characterized by being composed of a pair of main ribslocated at both ends, a plurality of intermediate ribs interposedbetween the main ribs, a pivot for turnably fixing the main ribs and theintermediate ribs in a root portion, and a fan face joined to theintermediate ribs between the pair of main ribs as well asopenably/closably bent like bellows, wherein at least a part of the fanface is composed of a thin film flat display formed on a flexible andbendy thin film or a thin film flat display formed on a flexible andbendy thin film is disposed to at least a part of the fan face.

The first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a displayapparatus similar to a Japanese fan. The display apparatus is providedwith the pair of main ribs and the plurality of intermediate ribsinterposed between the pair of main ribs to unfold a screen to flat. Ina state that the display apparatus is closed, the fan face isaccommodated between the pair of main ribs. The fan face is joined tothe pair of main ribs at both the ends and joined to all theintermediate ribs between the pair of main ribs. The pair of main ribsand the intermediate ribs interposed between them are bundled by thepivot in the root portion. The intermediate ribs and the fan face areunfolded flat by being guided by the main ribs acting as start ends bythe action of the pivot. Note that although the fan face, the main ribs,the intermediate ribs, and the pivot are terms used in the Japanese fan,it should be interpreted that these terms mean portions having the samefunctions as the respective elements of the Japanese fan.

The first exemplary aspect of the present invention is characterized inthat at least a part of the fan face is arranged as a screen payingattention to the accommodating and unfolding function of the Japanesefan. In this case, the fan face may be composed of the thin film flatdisplay formed on the flexible and bendy thin film. That is, the fanface itself, which is bent to a bellows state and unfolded into a flatstate, may be composed of the flexible and bendy thin film flat display.Otherwise, the fan face may be composed of a material constituting a fanface of a Japanese fan such as Japanese paper, silk, and the like whichare convenient to an open/close operation, and the flexible and bendythin film flat display may be disposed to the overall portion or atleast a part (most preferably to a central portion of the fan face whenit is unfolded into a flat state) of the fan face.

When the fan face itself is arranged as the thin film flat display, theoverall unfolded fan face may be arranged as an image screen or a partof the fan face may be arranged as the image screen. Since the fan faceis made by cutting a rectangular flat surface to a fan shape and anelectrode matrix is formed on the rectangular flat surface, an imageregion on the fan face is formed to a rectangular shape (is not formedto a fan shape). This is the same when the overall fan face is arrangedas the screen and when the region of a part of the fan face is arrangedas the screen. Further, a flexible and bendy thin film flat displayarranged separately from the fan face may be joined to a part of the fanface. Further, the thin film flat display may be formed on a frontsurface, a back surface, or both the surfaces of the fan face. When thethin film flat displays are formed on both the surfaces, it is possibleto display the same image to a person holding the fan and to a person inconfrontation with the person at the same time.

When an outer peripheral portion of the fan face (a peripheral portionwith a large radius far from the pivot) and an inner peripheral portionof it (a peripheral portion with a small radius near to the pivot) arecomposed of concentric arcs about the pivot and folding lines used tofold the fan face are formed radially so as to pass through the centerof the pivot, it is possible to make the fan face flat when it isunfolded. More specifically, in an ordinary Japanese fan, folding linesof a fan face do not pass through the center point of a pivot, andstrips formed by the folding lines have a width larger than a width of aportion to which a geometrically strict fan shape corresponds, therebywhen the fan face is unfolded, it rises and falls like a wave. The firstexemplary aspect of the present invention may be arranged such that thefan face rises and falls like a wave when it is unfolded. However, whenit is arranged as described above, the fan face is made to a flatsurface when it is unfolded, thereby an easily viewable image can bedisplayed. In this case, an image formed on the fan face has nodistortion, which is preferable to the first exemplary aspect of thepresent invention. Further, it is also possible to unfold the fan facesuch that mountains and valleys are repeated as in an ordinary Japanesefan. In this case, when the intermediate ribs have narrow intervals, acycle of repetition of the mountains and the valleys of the fan face ismade short. Since a shorter cycle makes the valleys shallower,distortion of an image formed on the fan face is reduced. However, whenan image formed on the fan face is unfolded in a horizontal directionaccording to the angles of the mountains and the valleys of the fan facesuch that an image obtained by projecting the image onto a horizontalsurface is made to a normal image, distortion of the image caused by themountains and the valleys of the fan face can be corrected. The thinfilm flat display may be composed of any display and is not particularlylimited as long as it is formed on a film-like sheet member, which iscomposed of a flexible and bendy thin film, for example, a resin film,shape memory resin film, shape memory metal thin sheet, metal thinsheet, Japanese paper, silk, and the like, and has a flexible and bendyproperty in its entirety.

A second exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus characterized by being composed of a pair of main ribslocated at both ends, a plurality of intermediate ribs interposed by themain ribs, a pivot for turnably fixing the main ribs and theintermediate ribs in a root portion, and a fan face joined to theintermediate ribs between the pair of main ribs as well asopenably/closably bent like bellows, wherein in an unfolded state of thefan face, a thin film flat display formed on a flexible and bendy thinfilm is made to a flat surface and joined to the vertex portions ofmountains of the fan face so that the mountains of the fan face arejoined in at least a part of the fan face, and when the fan face isfolded, the thin film flat display is folded to valleys of the fan facealong it in association with the folding operation.

In the second exemplary aspect of the present invention, the thin filmflat display is joined to the mountains of the fan face in a flat statesuch that when the fan face is unfolded, many mountains of the fan faceare joined. More specifically, the second exemplary aspect of thepresent invention is characterized in that when the fan face isunfolded, the thin film flat display is made flat in place of that it isformed to a wave shape. It is needless to say that the thin film flatdisplays may be disposed on both the surfaces of the fan face. The thinfilm flat display may be disposed to join many mountains over the entirefan face or may be disposed to the region of a part of the fan face.When the thin film flat display is disposed to the region of the part ina flat state, it is preferably disposed to a central portion of theunfolded fan face. When the fan face is folded, the thin film flatdisplay is also folded to the valleys of the fan face. At the time, itis preferable to join the valleys of the fan face to a back surface ofthe thin film flat display with strings or to join them vertically withstrip-shaped flat sheets. According to this arrangement, when the fanface is folded, since the valleys of it are made deep, the strings andthe flat sheets pull the back surface of the thin film flat displaytoward the valleys, thereby the thin film flat display can be smoothlyfolded to the valleys of the fan face. The other description of thefirst exemplary aspect of the present invention is also applied to thedescription of the second exemplary aspect of the present invention.

A third exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to the first or the second exemplary aspectsof the present invention which is characterized in that the thin filmflat display is an organic EL display or an electronic paper. When thethin film flat display is composed of the organic EL display or theelectronic paper, it can be provided with a flexible and bendy propertyand formed very thin. The organic EL display or the electronic paper canbe formed on an organic film, a Japanese paper, fiber such as silk,cotton, and the like, and other thin films. In particular, sincerespective layers of the organic EL display have a thickness of 10 nm to100 nm, it is possible to make an overall thickness of it including athin film as a substrate to 0.2 nm or less. In the case of the firstexemplary aspect of the present invention, when the fan face itself iscomposed of the organic EL display, since the organic EL display has theflexible and bendy property when it has a thickness of 2 mm or less, noproblem occurs when the fan face is folded and unfolded. Although it iscontemplated that the fan face preferably has a thickness of 0.2-0.1 mm,since the thickness of it depends on the number of folds andflexibility, the upper and lower limits of the thickness of it are notparticularly limited. When the thin film flat display is joined to thefan face in the first exemplary aspect of the present invention or whenthe thin film flat display is joined to the mountains of the fan face inthe second exemplary aspect of the present invention, it is preferablethat the thin film flat display be thinner.

A fourth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any one of the first to the thirdexemplary aspects of the present invention which is characterized inthat a keyboard is disposed to a main rib. The main ribs may be casesalso in the first to the third exemplary aspects of the presentinvention. The keyboard may be disposed on a front surface of the mainrib or in an inside of it, that is, in an inside space of the main ribunder a lid of an open/close lid disposed to the main rib. A switchmechanism of the keyboard may be arranged arbitrarily. It may beoptionally arranged as a button or touch type switch or a membraneswitch. Further, the main rib may be provided with a small display forpermitting manipulation through the keyboard to be carried out smoothlyand data communication with the outside to be easily carried out even ifthe information display apparatus is closed.

A fifth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any one of the first to the fourthexexmplary aspects of the present invention which is characterized inthat keyboards composed of touch switches are disposed to intermediateribs. A plurality of switches may be disposed to intermediate ribslikewise. In this case, when the fan face is unfolded, data inputmanipulation can be carried out through the keyboard. Since it isnecessary to close the fan face, these switches must be composed of athin film. Further, it is preferable to form concave portions on frontsurfaces of the intermediate ribs to prevent surfaces of the switchesfrom projecting from the front surfaces of the intermediate ribs so thatthe fan face can be smoothly opened and closed.

A sixth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any one of the first to the fifthexexmplary aspects of the present invention which is characterized inthat a computer system for information processing is disposed to themain rib. When the main rib is arranged as the case, the computer systemmay be disposed in it. Further, the main rib may be formed of resinintegrally with the computer system (CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.). With thisarrangement, the display apparatus of the sixth exemplary aspect of thepresent invention acts as an information processing apparatus.

A seventh exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any one of the first to the sixthexexmplary aspects of the present invention which is characterized inthat a microphone and a speaker are mounted on the main rib, an antennais mounted on the main rib or an intermediate rib is used as an antennato permit communication of audio, image or data to the outside. Therespective components may be accommodated in the cases of the main ribsor may be embedded in the main ribs by being molded of resin integrallywith the main ribs.

An eighth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus which is characterized by being composed of a thinfilm flat display formed on a flexible thin film, a hold means forholding the thin film flat display from a back surface such that it isjoined to front surfaces of a plurality of rigid rectangular substrateswhen they are arranged on a flat surface, a case for accommodating thethin film flat display, and a take-up unit disposed in the case fortaking up and accommodating the thin film flat display together with theholding means in the case using a direction parallel with a long side ofthe substrate as an axis.

The eighth exemplary aspect of the present invention is the informationdisplay apparatus for permitting a screen to be taken up. To permit thethin film flat display to be taken up, it must be thin and flexible.However, the thin film flat display arranged thin and flexible isdefective when it is used by being unfolded flat because it is difficultto be kept flat. To cope with this problem, the eighth exemplary aspectof the present invention has a feature in that the plurality ofrectangular substrates are continuously disposed on the back surface ofthe thin film flat display and joined thereto. With this arrangement,the substrates can be taken up with the thin film flat display facinginward. Further, when the plurality of rectangular substrates areunfolded flat, since they continuously constitute a flat sheet in theirentirety, they are neither curved nor bent in such a manner that thethin film flat display faces outside (it is made convex outward).Accordingly, when a screen is unfolded flat, the resultant screen has agood flatness keeping property. Further, a certain degree of resistantforce can be generated by engaging adjacent substrates with each otherby claws when bending force acts with the thin film flat display facinginward. With this arrangement, the screen can be kept flat moreexcellently. However, when the thin film flat display is taken up, theclaws must be easily removed so that it can be taken up.

A ninth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to the eighth exemplary aspect of thepresent invention which is characterized in that a magnet is disposed toat least one of two confronting side walls of adjacent substrates. Inthe ninth exemplary aspect of the present invention, the magnets arebonded to or embedded in the confronting side walls of the substrates inplace of the claws. With this arrangement, when the substrates areunfolded flat, a flat sheet can be formed by joining the substrates witheach other on the side walls by the attracting force of the magnets.When the magnet is disposed to one of adjacent substrates, the othersubstrate must be composed of a magnetic substance or at least theportion of the side wall of it in contact with the magnet must becomposed of the magnetic substance. When the magnets are disposed to theside walls of both the substrates and the attracting force of theconfronting magnets is used, the substrates may be composed of any ofthe magnetic substance and a non-magnetic substance. Further, contactregions of two adjacent substrates may be divided into two portions andthe magnets may be disposed to the other portions of the substrates. Inthis case, at least the portion of a substrate, which confronts with amagnet and comes into contact with the magnet must be composed of themagnetic substance.

A tenth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus characterized by being composed of a thin film flatdisplay formed on a thin film composed of at least one of flexible shapememory alloy, shape memory resin, shape memory alloy fiber, and shapememory resin fiber, a case for accommodating the thin film flat display,an accommodation unit disposed in the case for accommodating the thinfilm flat display by taking up or folding it, and a heat means forheating the thin film flat display when it is accommodated or unfolded.

An eleventh exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any of the eighth to the tenth exemplaryaspects of the present invention which is characterized in that the thinfilm flat display is an organic EL display or an electronic paper. Thematters described in third exemplary aspect of the present invention arealso applied to the eleventh exemplary aspect of the present invention.

Further, a twelfth exemplary aspect of the present invention is aninformation display apparatus according to any one of the eighth to theeleventh exemplary aspects of the present invention which ischaracterized in that a keyboard is disposed to the case. Since the casecorresponds to the main rib of the first to the seventh exemplaryaspects of the present invention, the matters described in theseexemplary aspects of the present invention are also applied to thetwelfth exemplary aspect of the present invention.

A thirteenth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any one of the eighth to the twelfthexemplary aspects of the present invention which is characterized inthat a computer system for information processing is disposed to thecase, and a fourteenth exemplary aspect of the present invention is aninformation display apparatus according to any one of the eighth to thethirteenth exemplary aspects of the present invention which ischaracterized in that the case accommodates a microphone, a speaker, andan antenna to permit communication of audio, image or data to theoutside.

The description of the sixth and the seventh exemplary aspects of thepresent invention is also applied to the fourteenth exemplary aspect ofthe present invention.

A fifteenth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to any one of the first to the ninthexemplary aspects of the present invention or the eleventh to thefourteenth exemplary aspects of the present invention which ischaracterized in that the thin film is composed of at least one of shapememory alloy, shape memory resin, shape memory alloy fiber, and shapememory resin fiber. With this arrangement, when a screen is used, it ispossible to enhance flatness and a flatness keeping property of an imagesurface, whereby a more easily observable image can be provided.

A sixteenth exemplary aspect of the present invention is an informationdisplay apparatus according to the fifteenth exemplary aspect of thepresent invention which is characterized by being composed of a meansfor heating the thin film. The heat means can enhance flatness and aflatness keeping property when the screen is used, and the screen can beeasily folded and taken up when it is accommodated.

The first exemplary aspect of the present invention is the informationdisplay apparatus in which at least a part of the fan face of the fan isarranged as the flexible and bendy thin film flat display or theflexible and bendy thin film flat display is disposed to at least a partof the fan face. Accordingly, since the information display apparatuscan be carried in a folded state, it can be made to an informationdisplay apparatus very excellent in portability regardless that it hasthe large display screen. Further, since the large screen can beobtained by unfolding the fan in use, usability of the informationdisplay apparatus is enhanced.

Further, in the second exemplary aspect of the present invention, theflexible and bendy thin film flat display is disposed to at least a partof the fan face in a flat state so that the mountains of the fan faceare joined together when the fan face is unfolded. With thisarrangement, when the fan face is unfolded, a flat screen can beobtained regardless that the fan face is made to a wave shape, therebydistortion of the screen can be prevented.

In the third exemplary aspect of the present invention, the arrangementof the invention can be easily realized by composing the thin film flatdisplay, which is formed on the flexible and bendy thin film, of theorganic EL display or the electronic paper.

In the fourth exemplary aspect of the present invention, since thekeyboard is disposed to the main rib, manipulation for datacommunication to the outside can be carried out even in a state that theapparatus is closed.

In the fifth exemplary aspect of the present invention, since thekeyboards composed of the touch switches are disposed to theintermediate ribs, the keyboards can be easily manipulated whileobserving a screen in a state that the information display apparatus isunfolded.

According to the sixth and seventh exemplary aspects of the presentinvention, since the function components are mounted on the main ribs,the information display apparatus of the invention is arranged as aninformation display apparatus that has many functions as a television, aphone, data communication, a computer, the Internet communication, andthe like and is excellent in portability and usability.

According to the eighth exemplary aspect of the present invention, thescreen is unfolded flat in use, and, when the screen is carried, it istaken up and accommodated in the case. Accordingly, the apparatus isarranged as an information display apparatus very excellent inportability and usability. In particular, since the screen unfolded inuse is made to a rectangular flat surface, an image can be easilyobserved as well as an efficiency of use of the screen is increased.Further, since the plurality of rectangular substrates are arranged asthe flat surface and the thin film flat display is joined onto the flatsurface, it can be easily bent inward and cannot be bent outward. Withthis arrangement, the flat surface keeping property of the thin filmflat display is enhanced regardless of its minute thickness. Further,take-up manipulation can be smoothly carried out.

In the ninth exemplary aspect of the present invention, when the thinfilm flat display is unfolded, since adjacent substrates are attractedby the magnets disposed on the side surfaces of them, the plurality ofsubstrates are made to a single flat sheet. As a result, the thin filmflat display on the substrates can keep a flat state when it isunfolded. Further, when the thin film flat display is taken up inwardfor accommodation, force for separating the substrates against theattracting force of the magnets act on them, whereby gaps are madebetween adjacent substrates, and thus the substrates can be taken upeasily.

In the tenth exemplary aspect of the present invention, when the thinfilm flat display is accommodated in the case or pulled out from it andunfolded flat, it is thermally deformed so that it can be easilyaccommodated and unfolded. For example, when a thin film is composed ofshape memory resin and super-elasticity is utilized, since theflexibility of the thin film is increased by heat, it can be easilytaken up and folded as well as can be easily unfolded flat. Further,after the thin film is unfolded flat, since it is released from heat andcooled, it is made hard and kept in a flat state so that a screen can beeasily observed. Further, when shape memory characteristics of shapememory alloy, shape memory resin and fiber (nonwoven fabric) of them areutilized in the thin film flat display and a shape of it when it isunfolded flat is stored to it, it can be unfolded flat and can keep aflat shape. Inversely, when a take-up shape and a folded shape is storedto the thin film flat display, an accommodated state of it can berealized. In this case, since the thin film flat display has flexibilityin a cooled state, it can be unfolded into a flat state and has hardnessto keep the flat state. With this arrangement, there can be obtained anadvantage of making accommodation and unfolding easy.

Further, the eleventh through the fourteenth exemplary aspects of thepresent invention have the same advantage as the third, fourth, sixth,and seventh exemplary aspect of the present invention. In addition, theflatness and the flatness keeping property of the screen in use can beenhanced and the screen can be more easily accommodated by thearrangement of the fifteenth exemplary aspect of the present invention.

The sixteenth exemplary aspect of the present invention can enhanceflatness and accommodation easiness in unfolding by heating and coolingthe arrangement of the fifteenth exemplary aspect of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an information display apparatusaccording to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a keyboard disposed to a main rib of theapparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electric arrangement of theapparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an arrangement of an organic EL flatdisplay used in the apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a relation between intermediate ribsand a fan face of the apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an information display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a relation between a fan face of theapparatus of the embodiment and an organic EL flat display;

FIG. 8 shows a behavior of the organic EL flat display when the fan faceis folded;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an information display apparatus accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a relation between a substrate ofthe apparatus of the embodiment and an organic EL flat display;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an engagement mechanism for engagingadjacent substrates of the apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view showing a mechanism for accommodatingthe organic EL flat display in the apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an information display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an information display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view showing an inside structure of aninformation display apparatus according to another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view showing an inside structure of aninformation display apparatus according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Detailed descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention will beexplained. Although the following exemplary embodiments describe theinvention, the scope covered by the right of the invention should not berestricted by the concreteness of the embodiments. Further, respectivecomponents can be arbitrarily and independently grasped, and inventionsfrom which and to which arbitrary components of claims are deleted andadded are also recognized in the description.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information display apparatus 10according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention when it isunfolded. A pair of main ribs 12 a, 12 b are composed of resin, and boththe ends of a fan face 14 are joined to the pair of main ribs 12 a, 12b. Further, many intermediate ribs 15 are disposed between the pair ofmain ribs 12 a, 12 b and turnably bundled by a passing-through shaft 16in a root portion together with the main ribs 12 a, 12 b. A pivot of afan is formed by the passing-through shaft 16. The intermediate ribs 15are composed of resin or metal. The extreme end portions of theintermediate ribs 15 are joined to the fan face 14. Specifically, theintermediate ribs 15 are joined to ever other wave-shaped faces.Further, in a state in which the information display apparatus 10 isunfolded, although the intermediate ribs 15 are in parallel with thefaces of the main ribs 12 a, 12 b in the root portion, they inclinealong the inclination of the wave faces of the fan face 15 in theportions of them joined to the fan face 14. That is, since theintermediate ribs 15 have elastic force, they are twisted toward extremeends.

Further, to permit manipulation for phone call andtransmission/reception of data to be carried out easily in a state inwhich the information display apparatus 10 is closed, a thin film flatdisplay 18 is disposed on a front surface of the main rib 12 a, and akeyboard 22 is disposed in a lid 20 that can be opened and closed usinga shaft 21 acting as a turning shaft as shown in FIG. 2.

The information display apparatus 10 is electrically arranged as shownin FIG. 3. The information display apparatus 10 is provided with acomputer system such as a CPU 40 for information processing, a DSP 41 asan arithmetic operation unit for controlling a screen, a ROM 42 and aRAM 43 for storing data, the keyboard 22 for inputting data, and thelike. The information display apparatus 10 is further provided with athin film flat display 30 on which a display image is created by the DSP41, the thin film flat display 18 controlled by the CPU 40, a televisionreceiver circuit 50, an audio/data transmission/reception circuit 51,and a speaker 52 and a microphone 53 connected to the circuit 51.Further, a USB terminal 25 for carrying out wired data communicationwith the outside and a LAN terminal 26 are connected to the CPU 40, anantenna 36 for audio and data communication is connected to theaudio/data transmission/reception circuit 51, and an antenna 56 forreceiving television signals is connected to the television receivercircuit 50.

The portions on which these components are mounted will be explained.The computer system such as the CPU 40, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, thetelevision receiver circuit 50, and the audio/datatransmission/reception circuit 51 are composed of an integrated circuit70 and disposed in the main rib 12 a. The speaker 52 is disposed to theupper end of the main rib 12 a, and the microphone 53 is disposed to theroot portion of the main rib 12 a.

In contrast, a battery 28, an external memory 27 (a combination of asingle or plural IC memories, bubble memories, fixed discs, and thelike), an IC tag 60 (IC card and the like), and an antenna 36 aredisposed in the other main rib 12 b, and the USB terminal 25, the LANterminal 26, charge terminals 29 a, 29 b are disposed on a side surface24 of the main rib 12 b. Further, transmission of signals and powerbetween the respective units disposed to the main rib 12 b and therespective units disposed to the main rib 12 a is realized by a flatcable 45 formed to a part on a lower surface of the fan face 14.Further, the television antenna 56 is composed of two intermediate ribs,two signal lines formed to the passing-through shaft 16 are connected tothe antenna 56 which is connected to the integrated circuit 70 disposedin the main rib 12 a through the signal lines. In addition to the above,a not shown digital camera and digital voice recorder are disposed tothe main rib 12 a.

In the embodiment, the fan face 14 is a thin film organic EL displayformed on a flexible and bendy thin film. As shown in FIG. 4, theorganic EL display has a cathode 110 composed of Mg, Li alloy, etc., anelectron injection layer 112, an electron transportation layer 114, ahole block layer 116, a light emitting layer 118, a hole transportationlayer 120, a hole injection layer 122, and an anode 124 composed of ITO(indium tin oxide) which are layered on a thin film 100 in this order.The cathode 110 is composed of many strip-shaped (parallel with thepaper sheet) electrodes, and the anode 124 are composed of manystrip-shaped (vertical to the paper sheet) electrodes. Further, atransparent resin film 126 is formed on the entire surface of theorganic EL display to protect it. FIG. 4 shows only two pixels of thedisplay. These layers are formed by vacuum evaporation using a metalmask. Further, it is also possible to use a thin film forming methodusing ion and radical together with plasma of a material gas. Further,it is also possible to use Japanese paper in place of the thin film 100.

Note that an organic material may be a low molecular organic substanceor a high molecular organic substance. When the low molecular organicsubstance is used, the films are formed by the vacuum evaporation.However, when the high molecular organic substance is used, a spincoating method may be used in which after melted polymer is dropped ontoa substrate, a uniform film is formed on the substrate by rotating thesubstrate. Further, when the high molecular organic substance is used,it is also possible to compose the organic EL display of only the lightemitting layer or only the light emitting layer and the hole injectionlayer.

Further, to realize full color, it is sufficient to separately carry outevaporation for each display unit using organic substances added withdyes of R, G, B as masks. For example, when it is assumed that FIG. 4shows a full color display, FIG. 4 shows only two light emitting regionsof R, G, B light emitting regions. In a full color display apparatususing a polymer material, there is used a method of forming films atpredetermined light emitting points by ink-jetting liquids composed oforganic substances added with R, G, B dyes. Further, an ink print methodcan be also used.

A material used as the display 18 is composed of a metal complex, forexample, heavy metal ions of iridium, platinum, and the like and rareearth metal ions of terbium, europium, cerium, and the like disposed ata center and an organic substance (ligand) coupled with them aroundthem.

Since the materials and the manufacturing methods of the other organicEL displays are disclosed in detail in the patent documents describedabove, the methods disclosed in them can be used. In contrast, the thinfilm flat display used in the information display apparatus of thisexemplary embodiment of the present invention has a feature in that anorganic EL thin film flat display is formed on a flexible and bendy thinfilm 100. Accordingly, since citation of the patent documents 1 to 9that disclose the manufacturing methods is sufficient to explain themanufacturing method of the organic EL display in detail, requirementsfor embodying the description can be satisfied by the patent documents.

In FIG. 1, a screen is designed in a rectangular region shown by aregion A. Signal lines 32, 34 are formed in the portion other than therectangular region A to connect between the main ribs 12 a, 12 b andelectrodes in the rectangular region A and to control display of pixels.With the above arrangement, an image is displayed on the rectangularregion A under the control of the DSP 41. Further, the CPU 40 detects amanipulation input from the keyboard 22 and carries out a processingaccording to the manipulation. Since the antenna 36 is disposed in themain rib 12 b, transmission and reception of audio and data to and fromthe outside can be made possible. Further, it is possible to receivetelevision signals by the television antenna 56 composed of theintermediate ribs and to display a video in the image region A.

Further, a keyboard 71 may be disposed to the root portions ofintermediate ribs 15. In this case, it is preferable to form recesses onthe surfaces of the intermediate ribs 15 and to form the keyboard bydisposing membrane switches and the like in the recesses so that thesurface of the keyboard 71 does not project from the surfaces of theintermediate ribs 15.

Further, as in FIG. 5, to sufficiently accommodate the folded fan facebetween adjacent intermediate ribs 15 a, 15 b, it is preferable to formroot portions 150 a, 150 b of the intermediate ribs 15 a, 15 b thick andto form portions 151 a, 151 b to which the fan face 14 is joined thin.With this arrangement, the fan face 14 can be smoothly opened andclosed. Further, although the fan face 14 is made to a fan shape asshown in FIG. 1 when it is unfolded, the upper side of the fan face 14may be made straight when it is unfolded. That is, the fan face 14 maybe formed such that a length in the intermediate rib direction of it isincreased toward both the edges of the fan face 14 from the center ofit. With this arrangement, since a large rectangular region can beobtained when the fan face 14 is unfolded, the area of the image regionA can be increased. Further, although the fan face 14 itself is arrangedas the organic EL flat display, a rectangular organic EL display may bejoined to the image region A on the fan face 14 and may be foldedtogether with the fan face 14.

According to the information display apparatus 10 of this exemplaryembodiment, since the screen can be folded, the apparatus 10 can becarried conveniently, and since the screen can be unfolded flat in use,a large screen can be obtained and thus usability is enhanced. First,the apparatus of the exemplary embodiment can be used as a computer thatcan carry out communication. Second, the apparatus can be used as atelevision receiver. Third, the apparatus can be used as a mobile phone.Fourth, the apparatus can be also used for automatic payment in a ticketgate of transport facilities and in a bank account, as an electronicmoney card, a resident-registry card, an automatic ticket gate card oftransport facilities, a distribution tag, and the like each making useof the IC tag 60. Fifth, the apparatus can be used for photographing bya digital camera, voice recording by a digital voice recorder, and thelike, and moreover recorded data can be easily edited using the largescreen. As described above, the apparatus can be used as an intelligentterminal with enhanced portability and usability.

Embodiment 2

In the second exemplary embodiment, an organic EL flat display is joinedto mountains of the fan face 14 in the first exemplary embodiment. FIG.6 is a perspective view, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view along an arc ofFIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the fan-shaped organic EL flat display 80manufactured by the above method is provided so as to be joined toridges lines 141 a of all the mountains of the fan face 14. An imageregion A is the same as the first exemplary embodiment. A back surfaceof the organic EL flat display 80 is connected to valleys 141 b of thefan face 14 through strings 81. The strings 81 may be disposed at aplurality of portions along a lengthwise direction of intermediate ribs15. The strings 81 are stretched straight when the fan face 14 isunfolded flat. When the fan face 14 is folded, since the valleys 141 bare made deep as shown in FIG. 8, the strings 81 pull the organic ELflat display 80 from the back surface in a direction of the valleys 141b. As a result, since the organic EL flat display 80 is folded towardthe valleys 141 b at an initial time of start of folding of the fan face14, it is smoothly folded to the valley portions of the fan face 14 by asubsequent folding operation.

Embodiment 3

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, an information display apparatus of thethird exemplary embodiment has a case 90 as a main body disposed to it,and a keyboard 22 is formed on an upper surface of the case 90 as shownin FIG. 12. The same units as those disposed in the main ribs 12 a, 12 bshown in the first exemplary embodiment are disposed in the case 90.These units are collectively shown by 91 in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10,many strip-shaped rigid substrates 92 composed of resin are disposedadjacent to each other in a flat state. Then, a rectangular organic ELflat display 93 is joined onto the flat sheet.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a concave portion 92 a and a convexportion 92 b are formed on side surfaces 921, 922 of two adjacentsubstrates 92, 92. The concave portion 92 a and the convex portion 92 bare formed to an arc shape on the sides thereof in a turn direction sothat the substrates can be turned smoothly with a contact line betweenthe substrates 92, 92 on the organic EL flat display 93 side facinginward. The organic EL flat display 93 is also unlike to bent in anupward direction (convex in an anti-vertical direction) due to theengaging action of the concave portion 92 a and the convex portion 92 bin a state in which the organic EL flat display 93 is unfolded. Withthis arrangement, the organic EL flat display 93 is made stable in aflat shape when used, and thus usability can be enhanced.

Further, the organic EL flat display 93 is accommodated in the case 90by taking up it around a turning shaft 96 by the rotating force of amotor 95 with the inside surface of the display 93 facing inward.Further, a pair of rubber rollers 94 a, 94 b are disposed to the inletof the case 90 so that elasticity is applied by clamping the substrates92 and the organic EL flat display 93 joined to them between the pair ofrubber rollers 94 a, 94 b. With this arrangement, when the organic ELflat display 93 is taken up, the engagement between the concave portion92 a and the convex portion 92 b of the substrate 92 can be easilyloosened. Further, when the organic EL flat display 93 is unfolded flat,the concave portion 92 a and the convex portion 92 b of the substrate 92are engaged with each other by the press force of the rollers 94 a, 94b.

Embodiment 4

Portions achieving the same functions as the first exemplary embodimentare denoted by the same numerals. In the embodiment, a fan face 14 isarranged such that when it is unfolded, it is made to a flat surface inplace of a wave surface. The fan face 14 has an outer peripheral portion201 and an inner peripheral portion formed to concentric arcs about apassing-through shaft 16 constituting a pivot. Then, all the brokenlines of the fan face 14 are arranged in a direction toward thepassing-through shaft 16. With this arrangement, when the fan face 14 isunfolded, it can be made to a flat surface. As a result, an image formedon an image region A can be more easily observed. The other arrangementis the same as the first exemplary embodiment.

Embodiment 5

The fifth exemplary embodiment has the same arrangement as the thirdexemplary embodiment. Many strip-shaped rigid substrates 92 are disposedflat adjacent to each other, and a rectangular organic EL flat display93 is joined onto the flat sheet. Magnets 97 a are fixed to two portionsof the respective adjacent side surfaces of adjacent substrates 92, andmagnets 97 b are fixed to two portions corresponding to the above twoportions of the side surfaces. These magnets 97 a, 97 b are buried inconcave portions formed to the confronting side walls of the respectivesubstrates 92, 72. Then, the side wall surfaces of the substrates 92, 92and the surfaces of the magnets 97 a, 97 b constitute the same surface.The confronting surfaces of these confronting magnets 97 a, 97 b arecomposed of a different magnetic pole so that attraction force acts toeach other. As a result, when the organic EL display 93 is unfolded tothe outside of a case 90, the plurality of substrates 92 can be keptflat by the action of the magnets. That is, a series of the plurality ofsubstrates 92 are formed to a flat surface and can be bent neitherupward nor down.

When the organic EL flat display 93 is taken up into the case 90, sincebending force acts on the magnets 97 a, 97 b in a direction orthogonalto the attracting force by the action of rollers 94 a, 94 b and aturning shaft 96 shown in FIG. 12, these magnets can be easily bentagainst the attracting force. That is, force of the magnets is notapplied in a direction orthogonal to the attracting force of them, adirection of the two magnets 97 a, 97 b can be easily changed. Note thatthe substrates 92 may be composed of a magnetic substance such asstainless steel and the like in place of resin. With this arrangement,joint force between adjacent substrates can be enhanced even if themagnets 97 a, 97 b have weak magnetic force. Although the magnets 97 a,97 b are used to parts of the substrates, they may be bonded onto theentire side walls of the substrates. Further, anisotropic rare earthbonded magnet (plastic magnet) may be used as the magnets. In this case,a large amount of holding force can be obtained by a small amount of thelight weight magnet.

Embodiment 6

The sixth exemplary embodiment has the same arrangement as the thirdexemplary embodiment. In the sixth exemplary embodiment, an organic ELflat display 99 is composed of a shape memory resin film 100 in place ofthe thin resin film 100 of FIG. 4 and arranged to have the samestructure as that shown in FIG. 4. The organic EL flat display 99 has nosubstrate 92. As shown in FIG. 15, two rollers 98 a, 98 b and a turningshaft 96 are arranged as heating rollers. A nichrome wire, a lamp, and aPeltier effect device can be used to heat them. In the embodiment, thetwo rollers 98 a, 98 b, the turning shaft 96, and the thin resin film100 are heated using a lamp 85. When the organic EL flat display 99 isunfolded or taken up, the shape memory resin film 100 is heated to atransition point temperature by heating the turning shaft 96 and therollers 98 a, 98 b. Thus, since the shape memory resin film 100 issoftened by being heated, its shape is easily changed along the circularshape of the roller 98 a and the turning shaft 96. As described above,the shape memory resin film 100 can be taken up around the turning shaft96 and accommodated while changing its shape.

Further, when the shape memory resin film 100 is unfolded, the turningshaft 96 and the rollers 98 a, 98 b are heated likewise, thereby theshape of the shape memory resin film 100 is easily changed so that itcan be unfolded by human power. The shape memory resin film 100 isunfolded into a flat state as well as keeps this state by being cooled.With this action, the organic EL flat display 99 can be made to a fixedflat sheet, thereby an image recognizing property is greatly enhanced,and the display can be easily handled when it is used. Further, when theorganic EL flat display 99 is accommodated, it can be easily taken upbecause its shape can be easily changed.

A shape memory alloy thin sheet may be used in place of the shape memoryresin film 100. Since the organic EL flat display 99 has flexibility atan ordinary temperature by using the shape memory alloy thin sheet, itcan be easily unfolded and accommodated. When the organic EL flatdisplay 99 is heated by being supplied with power, in an unfolded state,it can be made to a flat state stored by the shape memory alloy thinsheet. Thereafter, even if the power is shut off and the organic EL flatdisplay 99 is lowered to the ordinary temperature, since the shapememory alloy thin sheet keeps the flat state unless unreasonableexternal force is applied, a flat surface keep property can be enhanced.As a result, there can be provided a flat image that can be easilyobserved. When the shape memory alloy is heated by the turning shaft andthe rollers as described above, it is heated only when unfolded flat.Further, when an arrangement for disposing a heater on the back surfaceof the shape memory alloy thin sheet and supplying power to it isemployed, the shape memory thin sheet is heated after it is unfoldedflat.

Embodiment 7

In the seventh exemplary embodiment, accommodation by folding isemployed in place of the accommodation by take-up of the sixth exemplaryembodiment. As shown in FIGS. 16-A, B, four shaft-shaped fixed rollers87, three shaft-shaped moving rollers 88, three springs 89 for urgingthe moving rollers 88 in an X-axis direction, and a heater 86 aredisposed in a case 90. As shown in the figures, an organic EL flatdisplay 99 is alternately engaged with the respective rollers. Themoving rollers 88 are disposed such that they are guided by a groove(not shown) formed on an inside wall of the case 90 in the X-axisdirection and can be moved in the X-axis direction by the urging forceof the springs 89. A left end of the organic EL flat display 99 isbonded to the leftmost fixed roller 87. With this arrangement, when theorganic EL flat display 99 is unfolded, it does not move in an unfoldingdirection. Although the heater 86 is an arbitrary heater such as aheater, a lamp, and the like, it is disposed on an inside wall at anupper end of the case 90. FIG. 16-A shows an accommodating state, andFIG. 16-A shows an unfolding state. When power is supplied to the heater86 and the organic EL flat display 99 is heated, a thin film, which actsas a base of the display and is composed shape memory resin, issoftened, thereby the three moving rollers 88 are moved in the X-axisdirection by the urging force of the springs 89. With this operation,the organic EL flat display 99 is folded to a bellows state. Thereafter,when power to the heater 86 is shut off, the organic EL flat display 99is cooled and keeps a shape of FIG. 16-A.

When the organic EL flat display 99 is unfolded flat in use, power issupplied to the heater 86 so that the organic EL flat display 99 isheated and softened. In this state, when a grip 79 disposed at the rightend of the organic EL flat display 99 is grasped and the display ispulled externally by human power, the moving rollers 88 are moved in a−X-axis direction against the urging force of the springs 89. Next, whenthe power to the heater 86 is shut off, the organic EL flat display 99is cooled and hardened, thereby it keeps an unfolded flat state as shownin FIG. 16-B. At the time, since a degree of hardeness of the thin filmexceeds the urging force of the springs 89, the moving rollers 88 do notmove in the X-axis direction. As a result, since the organic EL flatdisplay 99 is fixed in the flat state, a sharp flat image can beobtained.

Further, shape memory alloy is used for the thin film, and a state ofthe organic EL flat display 99 accommodated in the bellows state asshown in FIG. 16-A is set as a shape memory state at a high temperature.Since the shape memory alloy is soft at a room temperature, the organicEL flat display 99 can be unfolded to a flat state as shown in FIG.16-B. Since the flat state is kept unless excessive force is applied,the organic EL flat display 99 can keep the flat state, thereby a sharpflat image can be obtained. When power is supplied to the heater 86 inaccommodation, the organic EL flat display 99 returns to the storedstate shown in FIG. 16-A, thereby it is accommodated in the case 90.

On the contrary, it is also possible to make the shape stored state at ahigh temperature to an unfolded flat state as shown in FIG. 16-B. Inthis case, the organic EL flat display 99 can be unfolded flat byheating the heater 86 because the stored shape is restored. Then, theorganic EL flat display 99 is used while supplying power to the heater86 or at a room temperature by shutting off power. When power is shutoff, it is sufficient to provide stoppers for stopping movement of themoving rollers 88 so that the urging force of the springs 89 does notact on the moving rollers 88 in the X-axis direction. That is, themoving rollers 88 are arranged to move forward and backward from theside wall surface of the case 90, and concave portions formed to endsurfaces of the moving rollers 88 are engaged with the stoppers. Inaccommodation, no heating is carried out. The moving rollers 88 aredisengaged from the stoppers and moved in the X-axis direction by theurging force of the springs 89, thereby the organic EL flat display 99can be folded into the bellows state and accommodated.

Embodiment 8

A shape memory resin film and a shape memory alloy thin film may be usedin place of the thin film of the first, second, and fourth exemplaryembodiments. Then, a heater wiring may be disposed to the fan face 14and supplied with power so that the fan face can be heated. Further, theintermediate ribs 15 may be arranged as a heater and supplied with powerso that the fan face 14 can be heated. With this arrangement, when thefan face 14 is heated by supplying power in a state that it is unfoldedby human power, it can be unfolded into a stored flat surface, therebythe fan face 14 can transit from a wave shape to a flat surface. Thatis, the folds of the fan face 14 disappear. In this state, heating isstopped by shutting of power, and the fan face 14 is used as a display.When a folding operation of the fan face 14 is not carried out, the fanface 14 keeps a predetermined flat state even if a temperature dropsunless external force is not applied thereto, and thus there is not anyfault when the fan face 14 is used as the display.

Next, the use of the fan face 14 is ended and the fan face 14 isaccommodated in the bellows state, it is sufficient to fold the fan face14 by applying external force to the main ribs 12 a, 12 b so that thefan face 14 of the fan can be accommodated. Since the shape memory resinfilm and the shape memory alloy thin film have flexibility at a roomtemperature, they can be easily folded. As described above, when the fanface 14 is unfolded, since the flat state from which the wave shapedisappears can be obtained, image quality can be enhanced.

Further, when the thin film 100 is composed of the shape memory resinand super elasticity of the resin is used, the fan face 14 is cooledafter it is unfolded into the flat state so that the wave shapedisappears in a heated state, thereby the thin film 100 unfolded intothe flat state is solidified and fixed. The fan can be accommodated bybeing folded into the bellows state while being provided withflexibility by heating. As described above, a problem of accommodationin a bent state and flatness in an unfolded state can be overcome.

The modes of use of the shape memory alloy, shape memory resin, shapememory alloy fiber, shape memory resin fiber, and the like are onlyexamples, and the present invention is by no means restricted to themodes of use. It is sufficient to realize transition between two shapes,that is, the bent shape and the flat shape according to thecharacteristics of these function materials.

1. An information display apparatus comprising: a fan face that isopenly/closably bent like bellows, the fan face comprising a thin filmflat display formed on a flexible and bendy thin film, the thin filmflat display comprising a full color organic EL display capable ofdisplaying a full color television image; a pair of main ribs joined torespective ends of the fan face, the fan face being disposed between themain ribs; a plurality of intermediate ribs interposed between the mainribs, the fan face being joined to the intermediate ribs; and a pivotfor turnably fixing the main ribs and the intermediate ribs in a rootportion, wherein a television receiver circuit is disposed in one of themain ribs.
 2. An information display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein one of the main ribs comprises a keyboard.
 3. An informationdisplay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate ribscomprise keyboards comprising touch switches.
 4. An information displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the main ribs comprises acomputer system for information processing.
 5. An information displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, to permit outside communicationof audio, image, or data, at least one of: a microphone and a speakerare mounted on one of the main ribs, an antenna is mounted on one of themain ribs, and one of the intermediate ribs is used as the antenna. 6.An information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thinfilm comprises at least one of shape memory alloy, shape memory resin,shape memory alloy fiber, and shape memory resin fiber.
 7. Aninformation display apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:means for heating the thin film.
 8. An information display apparatuscomprising: a fan face that is openly/closably bent like bellows, thefan face comprising a thin film flat display formed on a flexible andbendy thin film, the thin film flat display comprising a full colororganic EL display capable of displaying a full color image; a pair ofmain ribs located at respective ends of the fan face, the fan face beingdisposed between the main ribs; a plurality of intermediate ribsinterposed between the main ribs, the fan face being joined to theintermediate ribs; and a pivot for turnably fixing the main ribs and theintermediate ribs in a root portion, wherein a computer system forinformation processing is disposed in one of the main ribs.